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Ex-militant commander's rival wins key Somali vote

Wednesday December 19 2018
ed

Newly elected Somalia's South West State president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (left) delivers his speech soon after his election in Baidoa, Somalia, on December 19, 2018. PHOTO | AFP

By BBC

A candidate supported by Somalia's UN-backed government has been elected the president of the South West regional state amid a controversial campaign.

Former Energy Minister Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, known as "Lafta Garen", was elected by the regional MPs in the regional capital, Baidoa.

He defeated four candidates - although the favourite to win, former al-Shabab spokesman Mukhtar Robow, was disqualified from running last week.

In a live broadcast by the Somali National Television, an official said Mr Mohamed had won with 101 votes out of a total of 147.

Mr Robow, who defected from the jihadist group last year, was arrested on December 13 as the authorities considered him a security threat.

He remains in detention in the capital, Mogadishu.

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The arrest triggered deadly street protests in Baidoa, which hosts an African Union force base.

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